Positive grip friction wrench



Sept. 25, 1956 R. S. HARTUNG POSITIVE GRIP FRICTION WRENCH Filed Feb. 1, 1955 iP J INVENTOR.

RICHARD s. HAR UNG PGSITIV E GRIP FRICTION WRENCH Richard S. Hartung, Marietta, Ohio Application February 1, 1955, SerialNo. 485,428

6 Claims. (Cl. 81-58) This invention relates to tools used primarily in working on and repairing machinery and machine tools, and in particular, a wrench of the socket Wrench type in which means is provided for gripping and releasingnut and bolt receiving sockets without enlarging the socket holding portion or hub at the end of the wrench.

The purpose of this invention is to provide' a wrench in the form of an elongated handle With a rotatable socket in one end and in which means is provided in the handle for gripping and releasing the socket.

Conventional wrenches, of thesocket wrench type, are provided with hubs and the hubs are enlarged to provide a-socket for receiving a nut or head of a bolt. In numerous instances, and particularly Where bolt heads and nuts are positioned in recesses in heads of engine blocks the enlarged head of a socket Wrench prevents the head or hub sliding downwardly to obtaina positive grip on a nut or bolt head. Furthermore, with the conventional type of ratchet used in a socket Wrench of the reversible type, the ratchet elements cause extensions on the handle of the wrench that make use of the wrench impossible under certain conditions.

With these thoughts in mind; this invention contemplates a socket wrench in which the head is-in the form of a cylindrical strap and in which toggle actinglevers are provided for urging the strap into gripping relation with a cylindrical shank of a stud having flat sides and which is adapted to receive a socket ofa socket wrench set.

The object of this invention is, therefore, toprovide means for forming a socket wrench Without enlarging a socket retaining portion atone end.

Another object of the invention is to provide a socket wrench'having a stud rotatably mounted in-one end and in which toggle acting levers are provided in the handle for urging the elements of the head into frictional gripping relation with the cylindrical shank of the stud.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toggle acting socket wrench in Whichthe wrench is of a simple and economical construction;

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention ernbodiesan elongated tubular handle,.a head having a longitudinally disposed centrally positioned bore extended inwardly from one end and a transversely disposed bore providing a strap on theopposite end fric tionally held in one end of the handle, a nut threaded in the opposite end of the handle, a pin extended through the longitudinally disposed bore'of the head, a stud having a cylindrical shankrotatably mounted in the-trans versely disposed boreof the head, a cylindrical block slid ably mounted in the handle and positioned to engagethe pin, a rod having a bifurcated end mounted in the opposite end of the handle and positioned to engage the nut threaded therein, and a toggle lever extended through the bifurcated end of the rod pivotally connected thereto and positioned to extend through a slot in the handle whereby uponpressing an extended end of the-lever toward the handle a pin in the head urges the strap portion of the States Patent 2,764,049 Patented Sept. 25,1956

2.. head into gripping relation with the cylindrical shank of the stud.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, takeni n' connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved socket wrench.

Figure 2 is also an elevational view looking from a point positioned at a right angle from that of the view shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section throughthe wrench taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2i Figure4 is an end elevational view of the wrench look ing 1 toward the end on whiehlthe I handle is positioned;

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved wrench of thisinvention includes a tubular handle 10; a strap providing a-head 1'1 atone endof the handle,*a'base 12 having a longitudinally disposed bore 13 therein mounted in the end of thehandle andon which the head 11 is carriedra sliding block 14 in the handle and posi= tioned to engage a pin 15 in the bore 13; a plug 16 threaded in the end of the handle opposite" to th'af in Whiehthe base12ispositione'd; a rod 17 having abifurcated end"18*alsop0sitioned in the handle and a lever 1")pivotallyconnec tedto-tlieend" 18 of the rod 17 with a piriZll andhaving a liandle 2l extended therefrornl Thehead llgwhich is carried onthe endof the base 12; is forniedwith abore=22* in a'cylindrical sectionwith a notch 23 extended inwardly to a point 24 from the outer surface at one side and with a longitudinally disposed'slot Ziext'ended from 1 the bore 22to apoint 26; at which point it' joins a transversely disposed slot 27 thereby weakeninga portion-ofthe'head at one" side so thatpressure of the pin 15 against the surface-at thefar side of the slot27 forces the material of the strap" into gripping relation with a cylindrical shank 28" of a stud 29 extended from one side'ofthe wrench.

The'stud29is providedwith a collar'30 and the stud is retained in positioriwith aliead'31o'f a pin 32 that is frictiohall'y' heldin anopening 33in the shank.

To change the wrench fromright hand" to left' hand, th'e pin*32"is withdrawn by forcing the head 31 outwardly and 'the positiori-ofithe sh'anlc' 28 is reversedwhereby the stud 29" extends from the l side of the wrench opposite to that shown in Figure 2, and with the stud in this posi tiong the pin 32 is retlirne'd i to the opening 33' which will be positioned in a the opposite side;

The handle 10' is providedwithanelongated slot 34 that extends fron'ra point35 to a point 36 and thelever l9 'extends through the slot, as shown in Figure 3.

The small end of the'lever19 is provided with an arcuate surface 37 and themeetinglend of the block14is pro videdi with" a similar surface, as indicated by the numeral 32%, whereby the end of the lever isxfreeto slide against the. end of the block. The opposite endof the lever is provided with a similar arcuatesurface 39 that is positioned to coact with an*arcuatesurface 40 at-the base of :a block 41 in thebifurcated .end- 18. The inner edge of the lever 19ris.provided withaprojection 42 that limits outward movement of the lever.

Although the rod 17 and lever 19 may be pivotally connected by suitable means, itis ipreferredto usea rivet with the ends peenedor rivetedover to fill countersunk sections at the ends of an opening inwhich the rivet" or pin ispositioned. The endof the rod 17 opposite to the end pivotally connected to thelever 19 is provided with an arcuate surface 43 that is-positioned to extend intoa concave recess '44' in the endof'the plug 16. The opposite end of the plug isprovidedwith a screw driver slot; as indicated by the numeraI4S.

The base 1 2,- atitheppposite end of the" handle; .is rsecured in the handle by friction, however, it will be understood that a section 46 of the base may be sweat or brazed. in the end of the handle or secured therein by other suitable means.

With the parts formed as illustrated and described, Sockets, such as conventional sockets or socket wrenches, may be placed on the stud 29 and with the socket positioned over heads of bolts, or nuts threaded on bolts or the like, the handle 21 of the lever 19 may be pressed inwardly as the handle is moved, such as in a clockwise direction, and upon pressing the handle 21 inwardly the block 14 forces the pin against the portion of the strap at the lower side of the head 11whereby the head is urged into gripping relation with the shank 28 of the stud 29. By this means, the stud, with a socket thereon, may be rotated through a comparatively small angle, the handle 21 released whereby the wrench is adapted to be returned and the operation repeated. With the comparatively small head 11, the wrench is adapted to be used for tightening and removing nuts, cap screws, bolts and the like in which the operating area is limited.

I It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

- What is claimed is:

1. A friction gripping wrench comprising an elongated handle, a substantially cylindrical portion providing a head at one end of the handle, said head having a bore therethrough providing a relatively thin wall, said wrench having a recess extended inwardly from one side and positioned between the head and handle a cylindrical shank having a stud with flat sides extended from one end mounted in the bore of the head and positioned with the stud extended from one side thereof, and operating means coacting with the handle for elastically deforming one side of the head to frictionally grip said shank of the stud.

2. A friction gripping wrench comprising an elongated handle, a substantially cylindrical portion providing a head at one end of the handle, said head having a bore therethrough providing a relatively thin wall, said wrench having a recess extended inwardly from one side and positioned between the head and handle a cylindrical shank having a stud with flat sides extended from one end mounted in the bore of the head and positioned with the stud extended from one side thereof, and toggle acting levers coacting with the handle for elastically deforming one side of the head to frictionally grip said shank of the stud.

r '3. A friction gripping wrench comprising an elongated handle, a substantially cylindrical portion providing a head at one end of the handle, said head having a bore therethrough providing a relatively thin wall, said wrench having a recess extended inwardly from one side and positioned between the head and handle a cylindrical shank having a stud with flat sides extended from one end mounted in the bore of the head and positioned with the stud extended from one side thereof, toggle acting leversc oactingwith the handle for elastically deforming one side of the head to frictionally grip said shank of the stud, and means for adjusting the toggle acting levers.

4. In a friction gripping wrench, the combination which comprises an elongated tubular handle having a slot in one side, a base having a longitudinally disposed bore extended inwardly from one end, and a transversely disposed bore extended through the opposite end and providing a thin-walled head, said base being mounted in one end of the tubular handle with the end in which the longitudinally disposed bore is positioned extending into the handle, a pin slidably mounted in the longitudinally disposed bore of the base and positioned to engage a portion of the thin-walled head and elastically'deform the same, a cylindrical block slidably mounted in the handle and positioned to engage an end of said pin, a stud having flat sides on one end and a cylindrical shank on the other mounted in the head and positioned with the cylindrical shank in the transversely disposed bore of the head, a plug threaded in the end of the handle opposite to that in which the head is positioned, a lever having a handle extended therefrom extended through the slot of the tubular handle and positioned to engage the end of the sliding cylindrical block opposite to that adapted to engage the pin, and a rod mounted in the handle, pivotally connected to the lever extended through the slot of the handle and positioned to engage the plug threaded in the end of the handle.

5. In a friction gripping wrench, the q'ombination which comprises an elongated tubular handle having a slot in one side, a base having a longitudinally disposed bore extended inwardly from one end, and a transversely disposed bore extended through the opposite end and providing a thin-walled head, said base being mounted in one end of the tubular handle with the end in which the longitudinally disposed bore is positioned extending into the handle, a pin slidably mounted in the longitudinally disposed bore of the base and positioned to engage a portion of the thin-walled head and elastically deform the same, a cylindrical block slidably mounted in the handle and positioned to engage an end of said pin, a stud having flat sides on one end and a cylindrical shank on the other mounted in the head and positioned with the cylindrical shank in the transversely disposed bore of the head, a plug threaded in the end of the handle opposite to that in which the head is positioned, a lever having -a handle extended therefrom extended through the slot of the tubular handle and positioned to engage the end of the sliding cylindrical block opposite to that adapted to engage the pin, and a rod mounted in the handle, pivotally connected to the lever extended through the slot of the handle and positioned to engage the plug threaded in the end of the handle, said parts being positioned whereby inward movement of the handle extended from the lever moves the pivotal connection of the rod to the lever toward a plane extended through the axis of the pivotal connection extending the length of the parts and actuating the head to clamp the cylindrical shank of the stud therein.

6. In a friction gripping wrench, the combination which comprises an elongated tubular handle having a slot in one side, a base having a longitudinally disposed bore extended inwardly from one end, and a transversely disposed bore extended through the opposite end and providing a thin-walled head, said base being mounted in one end of the tubular handle with the end in which the longitudinally disposed bore is positioned extending into the handle, a pin slidably mounted in the longitudinally disposed bore of the base and positioned to engage a portion of the thin-walled head and elastically deform the same, a cylindrical block slidably mounted in the handle and positioned to engage an end of said pin, a stud having flat sides on one end and a cylindrical shank on the other mounted in the head and positioned with the cylindrical shank in the transversely disposed bore of the head, a plug threaded in the end of the handle opposite to that in which the head is positioned, a lever having a handle extended therefrom extended through the slot of the tubular handle and positioned to engage the end of the sliding cylindrical block opposite to that adapted to engage the pin, a rod mounted in the handle, pivotally connected to the lever extended through the slot of the handle and positioned to engage the plug threaded in the end of the handle, said parts being positioned whereby inward movement of the handle extended from the lever moves the pivotal connection of the rod to the lever toward a plane extended through the axis of the pivotal connection extending the length of the parts and actuating the head to clamp the cylindrical shank of the stud therein, and a head frictionally secured in the shankof the stud for removably retaining the stud in the head of the wrench.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1908 Sweden May 3, 1910 Great Britain Feb. 9, 1933 Germany July 7, 1934 Sweden Sept. 30, 1942 

